Supporting wall for a plurality of shells in the pouring of concrete



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an; L a M i FIE Ff; n Q I United States Patent 8 Claims. (Cl. 249-47 The invention relates to a supporting wall for a plurality of shells which cooperatively constitute a form for the pouring of concrete.

It is known to stiffen the planking of such forms by means of supporting members made of wood or, in some cases made of wood and steel. The supporting members may be built-up members or one-piece beams which are used in specific lengths depending on the requirement and which if made of wood, involve considerable waste and are subject to rapid wear and tear. Since the supporting members have a great length, if they are constituted by steel beams, they must have a large profile to prevent their being bent during transportation or at the construction site, which will render them useless. The weight of the supporting members is generally high and they are difficult to handle. In addition, in order to connect such individual supporting members to each other or to other supporting members of the forms, it is necessary to use connecting members in the form of nails, screws, clamps or the like, with the resulting high cost of labor and material. In order to avoid this expenditure and reduce the number of supporting members, they are arranged at comparatively large vertical and horizontal spacing. This, however, requires the use of a stiff form for the framework. If the form is composed of planks, the expenditure for labor and material is also very high. Consequently, it is customary, in many cases, to use a prefabricated sheetlike element of wood, cellulose or the like in the form of structural panels, or else to use elements of reinforced steel sheet. Such elements, however, do not permit dispensing with the supporting members. In addition, the use of, for example, prefabricated steel sheets is economical only if the sheets can be used very frequently which, in many cases, is not practical, because the sheets can be adapted to different specific requirements only at great expense. 7

The present invention is directed to the production of forms comprised of shells in the form of veneer boards such as plywood boards with weather proof gluing which can readily be cut to specific sizes whenever necessary and are adaptable for use with simple, easily mountable stiffening assemblies which, with minimum wear and tear, show a high adaptability to the different sizes of the surfaces to be poured.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved means for supporting the shells of the concrete forms. It is a particular object of the invention to provide a framework which is constituted by a plurality of stiffening as-. semblies which respectively support a flat element of the form and which are connected such that the flat elements cooperatively define a shell for the concrete form.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stiffening assemblies are constituted by first and second interconnected sets of spaced elements which respectively extend in the longitudinal and transverse direction to form a rectangular network. The elements of one of the sets has mutual flat surfaces lying in a common plane for supporting a flat element of the shell for the concrete form.

It is a feature of the invention that the elements of the stiffening assembly have projecting ends which are adapted for being connected with corresponding projecting ends of the elements of further stiffening assemblies, whereby a framework or supporting wall may be erected.

A preferred embodiment of the stiffening assemblies comprises five vertical elements and two horizontal elements which are spaced apart at equal intervals and are connected to one another. In the preferred embodiment, the flat elements of the concrete form are supported on the flat surfaces of the vertical elements, while the horizontal elements are secured to the vertical elements on a side which is opposite the side on which the flat elements of the form are secured.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stiffening assembly which is adaptable for connection with other stiffening assemblies in any desired arrangement, to. form the supporting wall. This may be obtained preferably by providing for a projection of the vertical elements beyond the horizontal elements, a distance approximately one-fourth of the length of the vertical elements. Additionally, the horizontal elements have one end which is flush with the marginal vertical element, while the other end projects beyond the other marginal element a distance which is equal to the width of the vertical elements.

stiffening assemblies developed in this manner can be adapted to each surface to be poured in an extremely simple manner, since the elements can be erected horizontally in juxtaposed relationship at a distance which may vary from a minimum amount determined by the amount by which the horizontal elements project to a maximum amount which is determined by the stiffness of the shell of the form which is used and which can, at most, be equal to the horizontal distance between the vertical elements which support the shell. In addition, the stiffening assemblies may be of different length in horizontal direction. For example, in order to form a supporting wall, it is possible to use stiffening assemblies which are approximately 1.70 meters long, together with stiffening assemblies which are only half as long or have another fractional length thereof. Likewise, the stiffening assemblies can accommodate forms of any height, merely by adjusting the degree of overlap of the projecting ends of the vertical elements. Generally it is, therefore, possible to use stiffening assemblies of the same height for the formation of supporting walls of different heights. Such stiffening assemblies may be arranged above one another in two or more rows overlapping each other by the same amounts or by different amounts.

In a supporting or stiffening wall formed by said stiffening assemblies, the stiffening assemblies, erected in juxtaposed relationship without mutual overlapping of the ends of the horizontal elements, are preferably connected to each other by horizontally extending flange members i which are fixed to some of the vertical elements and which overlap at least two adjacent stiffening assemblies to be connected to three stiffening assemblies.

The invention will now be described by way of the embodiments illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing, in which: 7

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational view of a first embodiment of a stiffening assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a familiar view of a second embodiment of a stiffening assembly; this embodiment can be used, together with stiffening assemblies according to FIG. 1, for the formation of a supporting or stiffening wall;

FIGURES 3a to 3d are elevational views of a first embodiment of a supporting wall composed of stiffening assemblies according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, showing opposite shells of a concrete form;

FIGURES 5a to 5d show vertical sections taken along the line VV of FIG. 3, showing opposite shells of aconcrete form;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view showing the overlapping of two stiffening assemblies at the detail A in FIG. 3;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIVII of FIG. 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of the detail B of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of a portion of the second embodiment of a supporting wall for a concrete form composed of stiffening assemblies according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 9, showing both shells of the form;

FIGURE 11 is an elevation view of a portion of a supporting wall formed of stiffening assemblies according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged view of the detail C of FIG.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged view of the detail D according to FIGS. 3, 9 and 11;

FIGURE 14 is a section taken along the line XIVXIV of FIG. 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a section taken along the line XVXV of FIG. 13.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown stiffening assemblies 1, 1' in the form of an assembled framework including an array of vertical elements 2 and horizontal elements 3. In FIG. 1 there are five vertical elements 2, while in FIG. 2 there are three vertical elements 2. The horizontal elements 3 extend across the vertical elements 2 and are connected thereto at the points of intersection. In both FIGS. 1 and 2 there is provided two horizontal elements 3. The vertical elements 2 and horizontal elements 3 are connected to each other in any suitable manner, such as for example, riveting, screwing, wedging or welding. The vertical and the horizontal elements form rectangular zones 4. The elements 2, 3 preferably have identical cross-sections of the same size, such that they may be obtained by dividing a member into shorter lengths. In the embodiment shown, the elements 2, 3 are channel sections, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The horizontal elements 3 each have one of their ends projecting beyond a vertical marginal element 2, while the other end thereof is flush with the outer edge of the other marginal element 2. The vertical elements 2, on the other hand, project with both of their ends 5, 6 upwardly and downwardly beyond the two horizontal elements 3. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the amount by which they project is the same, but it might also be different for the two ends 5, 6. According to FIGS. 1 and 2, about one-quarter of the length of the elements 2 project beyond each element 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and 11, a plurality of stiffening assemblies 1 can be assembled together to form supporting Walls of different heights for a form 8, by varying the amount of overlapping, i.e., the amount by which the adjoining juxtaposed ends 5, 6 of the vertical rods 2 mutually overlap. In the embodiments of the supporting walls, according to FIGS. 3 and 11, two rows of stiffening assemblies are respectively arranged in overlapping relationship. If each stiffening is 2.00 meters high, a supporting or stiffening wall according to FIG. 3 of, for example, 3.40 meters height is formed. According to FIG. 11, a supporting wall of a height of, for example, 2.60 meters is formed by means of the same stiffening assemblies. Accordingly, according to FIG. 3 the amount of overlapping is 60 cm. (4.00 m.3.40 m.), while the amount of overlapping according to FIG. 11 is 1.40 meters (4.00 m.2.60 m.). In the embodiment according to FIG. 9, three rows of overlapped stiffening assemblies of the same height are provided, forming a supporting Wall 4.40 meters high, in which the vertical elements 2 overlap at their ends a distance of 80 cm. (6.00 m.4.40 m.)/2.

In the region where the adjoining ends 5, 6 of juxtaposed assemblies 1 overlap, these ends are connected together according to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 by T-shaped connecting members 16, which are oriented with their web 16' extending through corresponding openings 17 in the webs of the channel shape elements 2. The flange members 18 of the connecting members 16 engage one of the web surfaces of an element 2. The webs of the connecting members 16 are each provided with an opening 19 for inserting a wedge 15 which, upon being driven into the opening, firmly interconnects in tight engagement the two overlapped vertical elements 2 of superimposed adjacent assemblies 1. This is especially apparent from FIG. 8. FIG. 8 also shows an enlarged view of the form 8 which consists, in the embodiment shown, of a plurality of shells of veneer plates or boards which are glued together in weatherproof manner. The shells of the form 8 can be secured to the vertical elements 2 of the stiffening assemblies in a simple manner, as for example shown in FIG. 12, wherein lock screws 21 are put through bores of the shells as well as through the openings 9 of the vertical elements 2, while a nut 23 is threadably engaged with screw 21 and a washer 22 is provided between the nut 23 and the flange of element 2.

In a horizontal direction, the stiffening assemblies are placed side by side with a slight spacing, while the shells associated with adjacent assemblies abut one another and form vertical joints or seams 25. Adjacent stiffening assemblies are interconnected by horizontal flange members 11 which, as is apparent from FIG. 3, extend across adjacent stiffening assemblies and are connected to some of the vertical assemblies 2 of the stiffening elements. According to FIG. 3, the flange members 11 are of two different lengths, the longer flange members 11 extending to the middle of the one stiffening assembly, and thereby over a span of 2 /2 stiffening assemblies, while the shorter flange members 11 extend only across two stiffening assemblies to an edge of the next stiffening assembly, thereby extending a distance only slightly greater than two stiffening assemblies. The flange members 11 in the embodiment shown, consist of spaced parallel members 12, 13 of like channel cross-section, with their webs facing one another and connected to each other by flat bars 26.

The connection of the flange members 11 to the vertical elements 2 of the stiffening elements is made as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 and wherein fastening members are arranged in the form of hooks 10 which extend through the members 12, 13 of the flange members 11. The hook 10 has an end 14 which is accommodated in one of the openings 9 arranged in the flanges of the vertical elements 2. The hooks 10 have opposite ends 30 which project beyond the members 12, 13 of said flange members 11. In order to bridge the vertical distance between members 12, 13, a plate or panel 27 extends vertically between the flanges of the members 12, 13. The panel 27 is provided with an opening 28 through which extends the end 30 of the hook 10. A wedge 15 can be inserted into outer end 30 and upon being driven in firmly connects the two members 12, 13 of the flange member 11 with the vertical elements 2 of the stiffening assemblies.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A supporting wall in combination with plurality of shells which cooperatively constitute a form for the pour ing of concrete, said supporting wall comprising a plurality of stiffening assemblies each including first and second interconnected sets of spaced elements respectively extending longitudinally and transversely, said stifiening assemblies being arranged in a common plane adjacent one another, said plurality of shells which constitute the form, being connected to respective stiffening assemblies and having free longitudinal edges projecting transversely beyond the associated stiffening assemblies, said stiffening assemblies being transversely spaced from each other such that the free edges of the associated shells are in abutting contact, and transversely extending elements connected to longitudinally extending elements of adjacent stiffening assemblies, securing the latter together.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transversely extending members which secure adjacent stiffening assemblies together extend a distance for being connected to three adjacent stiffening assemblies.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transversely extending members which secure adjacent stiffening assemblies together alternate in arrangement and have overlapping ends connected to adjacent stilfening assemblies.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending set of elements of each stitfening assembly extend longitudinally beyond the associated transverse set of elements, said supporting wall having stiffening assemblies which are arranged adjacent one another in a longitudinal direction with the longitudinally extending set of elements of the stiffening assemblies in overlapping relation and including means connecting the latter overlapping set of elements together.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means connecting the overlapping longitudinally extending elements comprises T shape connecting members, said overlapping elements having aligned openings through which extend said T shape members, said T shape connecting members including a flange in contact with the overlapping elements at one side thereof and wedges engaged in the T-shape member and in engagement with the overlapping elements at the opposite side thereof.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein each transversely extending member comprises a pair of identical channel members having webs in spaced relation facing one another, and means securing the channel members together while also securing the channel members to a longitudinally extending element of a stiffening assembly.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein the longitudinally extending elements of the stiffening assemblies are provided with a succession of longitudinally spaced openings, said means which secures the channel members together including a hook member having one end engaged in an opening in a longitudinally extending element, said hook member extending between the channel members and having another end projecting beyond the channel members, a plate member extending longitudinally and spanning said channel members, said plate member having an opening through which extends the end of the hook member which projects beyond the channel members, and means securing the latter end of the hook member with the plate member and with the channel members.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means securing the end of the hook member with the plate member and the channel member comprises a wedge, said hook member being provided with an opening in which said wedge is received to contact the plate member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,413,693 4/ 1922 Venable 24947 X 1,520,965 12/1924 Pulis et a1. 249192 1,552,885 9/1925 Seat 25131 1,554,029 9/ 1925 Pulis 249192 1,807,943 6/1931 Sutton 24947 X 2,591,346 4/1952 Fitzgerald 18936 2,679,872 6/ 1954 Sutclitfe 25-131 2,725,620 12/1955 McGrath 29400 2,936,518 5/ 1960 Schneider et al 29-400 3,108,665 10/1963 Marchand 52-634 FOREIGN PATENTS 650,616 10/1962 Canada.

255,627 7/ 1926 Great Britain.

746,751 3/ 195 6 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

M. V. BRINDISI, Examiner.

G. A. KAP, R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A SUPPORTING WALL IN COMBINATION WITH PLURALITY OF SHELLS WHICH COOPERATIVELY CONSTITUTE A FORM FOR THE POURING OF CONCRETE, SAID SUPPORTING WALL COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF STIFFENING ASSEMBLIES EACH INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND INTERCONNECTED SETS OF SPACED ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY, SAID STIFFENING ASSEMBLIES BEING ARRANGED IN A COMMON PLANE ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER, SAID PLURALITY OF SHELLS WHICH CONSTITUTE THE FORM, BEING CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVE STIFFENING ASSEMBLIES AND HAVING FREE LONGITUDINAL EDGES PROJECTING TRANSVERSELY BEYOND THE ASSOCIATED STIFFENING ASSEMBLIES, SAID STIFFENING ASSEMBLIES BEING TRANSVERSELY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER SUCH THAT THE FREE EDGES OF THE ASSOCIATED SHELLS ARE IN ABUTTING CONTACT AND TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ELEMENTS CONNECTED TO LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ELEMENTS OF ADJACENT STIFFENING ASSEMBLIES, SECURING THE LATTER TOGETHER. 